With Opening Day drawing ever closer, Cuban infielder Hector Olivera is still without an MLB club. Sources close to Olivera's negotiations believe a deal is near though, and the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres are still at the top of the list.
Multiple teams have been in on the bidding, but little is known beyond that. The only known bid is the Atlanta Braves' four-year, $40 million offer. The other teams in the mix are preparing larger bids though, with CBS reporting that the Braves are "behind the pack" in this chase. Olivera is said to seek a six-year deal for $60 million; the Miami Marlins are believed to have offered a seven-year, $53 million contract but are now completely out of the hunt.
The chase for Olivera is different from the scrum that ensued from teenage shortstop Yoan Moncada reaching the United States. Unlike Moncada, Olivera is already 29 years old and ready to contribute to MLB lineups. On the flip side, he doesn't offer Moncada's considerable upside, and he comes here with concerns about the UCL in his throwing elbow. UCL injuries typically result in Tommy John surgery.
With Atlanta fading, and the San Francisco Giants simply "monitoring" the proceedings, it appears the chase boils down to the Dodgers and Padres, with L.A. being the favorite because of the financial might they're able to flex. For that wealth to come into play though, they must desperately want Olivera if the Padres are determined to snag him.
San Diego isn't typically a financial powerhouse, but this offseason new general manager A.J. Preller has been extremely aggressive in upgrading the roster. In just a few months Preller completely re-did San Diego's outfield, snagging two All-Stars and a former Rookie of the Year. He also landed one of the top free agent pitchers on the market, James Shields.
[CBS]
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